CALGARY, AB--(Marketwired - October 13, 2015) - Canadian Immigrant magazine is coming to Calgary with its signature, free expo for newcomers -- the Career, Education & Settlement Fair, on Thursday, October 15, 2015, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Presented by Scotiabank and in association with IELTS Canada - British Council, this event at the Telus Convention Centre (South Building) aims to help newcomers succeed in their chosen home of Calgary.
The free event includes:
- A tradeshow of exhibitors including employers (some hiring onsite), settlement agencies and educational institutes (including Gold Sponsors University of Lethbridge CPA Bridging Program, and IDP-IELTS);
- Immigration lawyer and consultant onsite to answer questions about immigration and sponsorship;
- Inspirational speaking sessions by successful Calgary immigrants who will share their own journeys (see Backgrounder below);
- An onsite resumé clinic and job interview clinic;
- An English pronunciation workshop to help newcomers speak clearly in their new language;
- Information on taking the IELTS English test; and
- A session on financial literacy for newcomers and careers in banking by Scotiabank.
Citizenship Ceremony onsite during Citizenship Week, too!
Also being planned is an exclusive Citizenship Ceremony to be held onsite, the perfect accompaniment to the Fair, bringing new and more established immigrants together. (NOTE: Oct. 12-18 is Citizenship Week in Canada).
More about the Fair
Thousands of immigrants arrive in Calgary yearly with ambitions for their family's future. However, many need information and inspiration on the reality of Canadian living -- from continuing education to obtaining employment and getting settled. Canadian Immigrant magazine has been a guiding star for such newcomers through its national print and online publications for more than 10 years. The Career, Education & Settlement Fair -- which has been a hit in Toronto for the last five years, Vancouver for three (including one this November), and Halifax for the first time this September -- expands its support of Canadian newcomers with a comprehensive tradeshow and interactive sessions.
Quote
"Last year's Calgary fair was a great success, and there was no question that we would return for a second annual event. One of the most important aspects of the Fair is the opportunity it gives newcomers to make face-to-face connections with others, including organizations striving to help them and employers. We encourage all immigrants in Calgary to come to this free event to network, learn new strategies for success, and leave inspired." - Sanjay Agnihotri, Co-Publisher of Canadian Immigrant.
About Canadian Immigrant magazine
Attracting more than 287,000 readers each month, Canadian Immigrant magazine is distributed in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary, and helps new Canadians build a successful life and home during their first years in Canada. Its mandate is to inform, educate and motivate. The magazine provides easy-to-access content for newcomers who are looking for information, from careers, education and settling in to culture, money and business. With more than 80,000 visitors per month, our website, www.canadianimmigrant.ca, offers daily editorial, forums, tools and resources to help newcomers across Canada. Canadian Immigrant is a division of Metroland Media Group Ltd.
For more information, visit:
www.canadianimmigrant.ca/careerfair/calgary
Like Canadian Immigrant on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/canimmigrant
Follow Canadian Immigrant on Twitter:
@canimmigrant
Available for Interviews:
MEDIA CONTACT:
Margaret Jetelina
604-612-9148
EXHIBITOR INFORMATION:
Alla Gordeeva
778-558-3397
BACKGROUNDER
SPEAKERS' WORKSHOPS at the 2015 Calgary Career, Education & Settlement Fair:
Financial Literacy for Newcomers and Careers in Banking (Parts 1 and 2)
Presented by Scotiabank
Part 1 of this session will focus on Scotiabank StartRight financial literacy for newcomers, while Part 2 will provide information on careers in banking.
Speaker (Part 1): Josephine Pon
Josephine Pon is the Regional Business Development Manager of Multicultural Banking for Scotiabank, Prairie Region. She has worked in this position for more than seven years and is responsible for providing strategy, leading and managing the region to achieve the goals in Multicultural Banking. In addition, Pon is the current Chair of the Board of Directors of Immigrant Services Calgary and the Chair of the Immigrants of Distinction Awards Gala. She has been making a difference in the lives of newcomers for many years through her volunteer efforts. Josephine appreciates the valuable contributions immigrants make to Canada, while also understanding the difficult challenges of settling in a new country. She works together with various immigrant settlement agencies to assist newcomers to realize the full potential of their lives in Canada.
Speaker (Part 2): Shirley D'Cruz
Shirley D'Cruz is a member of Scotiabank's staffing and planning team, supporting Scotiabank's retail banking network across Western Canada. She joined the Bank in 2014 after completing her bachelor's degree in human resources management with honours at York University in Toronto. As the Assistant Manager of Staffing and Recruitment, D'Cruz manages the full cycle recruitment process and develops recruitment strategies to attract top talent. She is passionate about helping dynamic and skilled professionals find amazing careers at Scotiabank through community involvement. She participates at industry and campus recruitment events and also volunteers her time as a career coach, assisting Aboriginal youth, persons with disabilities, and newcomers with the information and skills to find careers in the Canadian labour market.
Make Your Dreams Come True: Strategies for Success and Happiness
Originally, a chartered accountant from India, Girish Agrawal came to Canada in 2000. Despite having gone through multiple challenges, Agrawal has created a very successful financial consulting practice. In this speech, he will share his inspiring story and provide his insight on what it takes to live a successful and happy life in Canada.
Speaker: Girish Agrawal
Girish Agrawal is a leading expert in the financial services industry. Through his financial consulting practice, Agrawal Associates, he provides advanced wealth planning strategies to Canadians, in particular to immigrants. His extensive experience is well supported by several qualifications including the certified financial planner designation and many years of experience with KPMG, Ernst & Young and Investors Group. Agrawal is passionate about social change and giving back to the community. For his outstanding contributions, Agrawal was recognized as one of Calgary's Top 40 Under 40 (2008), a Top 25 Canadian Immigrant (2010) and an Immigrant of Distinction (2015). His vision is to be a well-respected source for helping Canadians build their wealth.
Building Yourself Up by Getting Involved
Building your life in Canada can be difficult especially when opportunities for growth seem hard to find. How do we gain networks? How do we begin to make efforts that build us up? Volunteer! Join Ariam Wolde-Giorgis, who has built a career on getting involved in her Calgary community, as she discusses how volunteering and giving back to your community can benefit you personally and professionally.
Speaker: Ariam Wolde-Giorgis
Ariam Wolde-Giorgis is a community engagement co-ordinator with the Federation of Calgary Communities. She works with community associations and local not-for-profits to support community life and inclusive neighbourhoods. With a BA in sociology with a concentration in ethnicity, immigration, and multiculturalism and more than 10 years' experience of volunteering with Calgary-based organizations, Wolde-Giorgis is passionate about supporting immigrants and recently received the Achievement under 40 Award at the Immigrant of Distinction Awards 2015 by Immigrant Services Calgary.
From Survival to Success
Umashanie Reddy was a qualified professional when she came to Canada and, like so many newcomers, she had to start at the very bottom. Her climb to success has led her into a leadership position with the Calgary Public Library and now the Calgary Bridge Youth Foundation, where she leads innovative initiatives to help young newcomers and their families to better settle and integrate. Come listen to her inspirational story!
Speaker: Umashanie Reddy
Umashanie Reddy was born and raised in South Africa and lived in a culturally diverse community. She was an astute scholar and obtained a bachelor of arts, bachelors and honours degree in library science with distinction from South Africa, and practised as an academic librarian at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Reddy began on a new road in 2005 when she took her family to Canada, where she started at the bottom, as a part-time day care assistant with minimum wage. Undeterred, she completed a master's degree and found a position with the Calgary Public Library as its diversity services manager, and is now executive director of the Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth. Also named one of our Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2015, Reddy is a dynamic speaker who will have you sitting on the edge of your seat!
English Pronunciation for Success Workshop
Do Canadians ask you to repeat yourself? A few, specific changes could make all the difference. Catherine Steele of English Pronunciation For Success is hosting a free pronunciation workshop for people who are interested in talking about accent reduction. Come and learn tips and tricks to help English speakers understand you more easily the first time you speak. Join us! It will be a fun, interactive activity.
Speaker/Facilitator: Catherine Steele
Catherine Steele loves languages, but even more, she loves people. In her 25 years as a language educator, she has lived in Quebec, Japan and Mexico, and has travelled around the world. Steele helps people focus on the sounds and speech patterns specific to North American English. She has a B.Ed with a focus on languages, literature and linguistics from Simon Fraser University, and TESOL certification through Vancouver Community College, where she later joined the staff. Then, following a career of 15 years as a pronunciation trainer with Vancouver English Centre, Steele now coaches mastermind groups at the advanced level under her company name: English Pronunciation For Success. She has developed courses specifically tailored to the needs of people interested in success in business, health care and IELTS.
How to Become a CPA in Canada
Demand for chartered professional accountants is growing in every industry in Alberta. Chartered professional accountants (CPAs) do more than just create financial statements. They are policy makers, strategists and advisors. Recognized worldwide, the CPA designation signifies financial expertise, strategic thinking, business insight and leadership. The program was designed specifically to enable those with a four-year degree in any discipline, from any country, to transition into a career as a CPA. You don't need prior accounting courses or work experience, so you can become a business leader, without a business background. Attendees will learn about the opportunities available through the CPA Bridging program, including how to earn the professional diploma in accounting.
Speaker: Sonya von Heyking
Sonya von Heyking is the director, CPA Bridging in the faculty of management at the University of Lethbridge. Combining the best of both worlds, von Heyking works with students in the classroom as an accounting instructor, and with fantastic colleagues and partners in promoting the success of the students in the CPA Bridging Program. Von Heyking holds the chartered accountant, certified internal auditor, certification in control self-assessment and certification in risk management assurance designations.
Prepare Better with Road to IELTS
Road to IELTS is an online preparation and practice resource for the IELTS English test. With more than 100 hours of interactive activities, advice videos from British Council experts, hints and tips on question types as well as downloadable practice tests, it is comprehensive, up-to-date and aims to precisely help the challenges candidates face. Test takers that register with the British Council receive the Last Minute version (30 hours) of Road to IELTS for free. This interactive session is going to take the audience through the material right from its website, allowing the audience to ask questions on how best to prepare for the IELTS.
Speaker: Assia Hamdane
Assia Hamdane is head of marketing for IELTS Canada - British Council and is based in Montreal, Quebec. Hamdane's primary role is to raise awareness about taking IELTS through the British Council network and promoting its various benefits. This includes liaison with academic partner institutions and governments that rely on IELTS scores when processing students and immigrants applications. Prior to British Council, Hamdane worked as a marketing director at Thomson Reuters in their Montreal office. She has also worked in senior marketing positions for AXA Insurance Canada and GEA WestfaliaSurge in Germany and the United States between 2007 and 2012. She holds a certificate in finance from HEC Montréal and a bachelor's in marketing from John Molson School of Business at Concordia University.
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Contact Information:
Available for Interviews:
MEDIA CONTACT:
Margaret Jetelina
604-612-9148
EXHIBITOR INFORMATION:
Alla Gordeeva
778-558-3397
